TellZim Reporter

Masvingo City Council has lamented what it terms ‘poor workmanship’ on roads that were repaired under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) 2 around the city.
The local authority has since resolved to engage the Provincial Roads Engineer over the matter for intervention.
In the minutes of the Public Works and Planning Committee meeting held on June 9 2022, the committee highlighted the need to install road signage and speed humps on roads which were recently rehabilitated to combat over speeding.
“The Committee noted with concern the poor workmanship on some roads which were rehabilitated under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP 2). The town Clerk was instructed to raise the concerns with the Provincial Roads Engineer.
“The committee further highlighted the need to install road signage and speed humps particularly for roads which were recently rehabilitated to combat over speeding” read the minutes.
Though the minutes did not specify the roads which were poorly done, they indicated that three contractors namely Tensor Systems, Jadecon Engineering and Ablexon Pvt Limited were contracted for the programme.
According to the minutes, Tensor system had recorded the following progress for resealing on Dindingwe Street (100 percent), Mharapara (100), Glentor Street (60 percent).
Ablexon Pvt Limited is in process of graveling Nyadzonya which is currently at 50 percent, Zana and Jiri streets which are at 80%.
Jadecon Engineering Company is doing Dambiro Street which is at 90 percent and is yet to start upgrading of drainage system in town whose commencement has delayed due to lack of funds.
“For in-house road maintenance activities, it was reported that 20 km of roads had been marked and 15,000 m3 of gravel stockpiled for spot dumbing and re-gravelling activities with routine maintenance activities done for Garwe Street (250 meters) and Zuva Street (112 meters) for de-silting of drainage,” read the minutes.
Quite a good number of roads maintained as part of ERRP have been reported to be of poor quality with residents at some point in time questioning the logic behind continuing with same contractors blamed for poor workmanship.

Roseline Mutare

Masvingo motorists have expressed concern over the newly constructed road humps along Kelvin Majange and Mboroma roads in Mucheke D which they feel are narrow and steep thereby affecting most small vehicles with lower clearances for they will fail to negotiate the humps.
In an interview with TellZim news, one of the motorists said the purpose of humps is to reduce speed, unlike the ones they say are meant to damage vehicles.
“We all know that speed humps serve a purpose of reducing speed, but what we are seeing in Mboroma and Kelvin Majange roads aims at causing accidents,” said the motorist.
In a separate interview, other motorists however said city council should put markings on humps so that they are visible during the night.
In response to this, ward 3 councillor Rocky Kamuzonda agreed with the motorists that the humps along Kelvin Majange street are too steep and may cause harm to vehicles. He promised to take the matter up to the responsible authorities for betterment of these speed humps.
“As your servant, I do hereby take this matter with urgency to request that there be reconstruction of better proper humps,” he said.
Kamuzonda said before his coming into office, he used to volunteer to do the humps therefore his desire for better roads will not fade.
“My hope is that the matter would be treated with urgency,” he added.
The department of roads in Masvingo last year received approximately ZW$ 19.3 million out of the amount received for devolution projects for Masvingo.
These two above mentioned roads were maintained under the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) and were expected to meet high standards.

Emmanuel Chitsika

Masvingo Urban councilors have expressed concern over the increased cases on mental illness among the city’s youthful generation which they claim currently constitute three quarters of Ngomahuru mental health institution patients.
Raising the issue during a full council meeting held on June 27 at the Civic Center, ward 4 councilor Alec Tabe said youth from wards 1,2 and 4 are amongst the major sufferers to drug and substance abuse and challenged council to put in place stronger mechanisms to curb the problem.
“The drug called Mutoriro has caused a lot of harm in society. I have been to Ngomahuru recently and noticed that three quarters of the inmates at the institution are suffering as a result of drug and substance abuse. The trend has not spared wards 1, 2 and 4 in Masvingo city.
“As a responsible authority, there is need for us to come up with strong mechanisms to curb the social ill. There is need for council to decisively deal with the sources of these drugs while at the same time we look into the issue of shebeens. There is need for council to engage other partners in dealing with the problem,” said Tabe.
His sentiments were echoed by ward 10 councilor Sengerayi Manyanga who said most occupants at Ngomahuru are from Masvingo urban and thus the need for the City Fathers to act.
“If we look at the composition of the inmates at the institution, one would discover that most mental patients are youth from Masvingo urban and thus we are called upon to act. Even if it means that council come up with rewards for residents who tip law enforcement agents on drug dealers or their hubs.
“At one of our clinics Runyararo West or Eastvale, we need to have a drug hub offering need services to affected people,” said Manyanga.
Councilor Roki Kamuzonda of ward 3 bemoaned lack of recreational facilities in most suburbs as the major driver behind the scourge.
“In our wards, there are no recreational facilities to help occupy the youth like ground and gym facilities. A few who would visit such facilities would do so in Mucheke where there are grounds but the rest of the suburbs do not have any.
“Council should avail such facilities for the youth to make use of,” said Kamuzonda.
Ward 7 councilor Richard Musekiwa also weighed in saying a lot of innocent souls have been lost to drugs as a result of idle minds due to unemployment in the country.
“As council, there is need for us to have a focal person when it comes to dealing with these cases. Though joint operations may be useful, council need to have an input towards such initiatives.
“We have lost a good number of these young people to drug-related illnesses. Some have resorted to committing suicide as a result of these substances. Junior council should also be made use of in such drug abuse curbing initiatives,” said Musekiwa.
The problems of drug and substance abuse has been topical among the youthful generation due to high levels of unemployment.

Emmanuel Chitsika

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Masvingo Urban councilors have implored Masvingo City Council management to first consult policy makers before approval of donations concerning city coffers.
Speaking during a full council meeting, newly-elected ward 4 councilor Alec Tabe quizzed management on the ‘so-called donations’ by the local authority towards various government and Zanu PF-linked occasions.
Tabe even asked if there was also another term to be used on the funds that have found way out of council purse funding such programmes which he said need to be deliberated on before as most of them are being brought before councilors after the money is already gone.
“Can management furnish us with details on this issue of donations towards that has become so common in our council minutes? Can’t there be another term to explain that. There is need for management to consult councilors before approving some of those donation requests.
“Some of the so-called donations have provoked residents in our wards as residents seek explanation on the initiatives of which as councilors, we won’t have any,” said Tabe.
Ward 7 re-elected councilor Richard Musekiwa suggested that since some of the donation requests are sought by politicians, it would rather be wiser for council management to refer the matters to councilors who are also politicians to deliberate on them before approval unlike a scenario where the matter is tabled before councilors for ratification long after the funds are disbursed.
“Since those people who come applying for donations are politicians, it would rather be better for you management to consult councilors who are also politicians to deliberate on the matter unlike a situation in which the requests are brought before councilors after the funds are disbursed,” said Musekiwa.
However, responding to the requests by councilors, Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said they would try to forward any requests for donations to councilors in the future.
“As management, maybe what we can do in the future is that we would inform the people applying for such donations to first forward their requests to councilors before approval of such.
Masvingo City Council has on a number of occasions donated towards state functions with the latest council minutes of June 20, 2022 revealing that council had received donation requests towards the official ground breaking ceremony at Bikita Minerals Spodumene Mining Project though it was over ridden by events and the donation did not set off.
Also a similar request was made by Masvingo District Development Coordinator Roy Hove for groceries to be used at Nemamwa during Zanu PF second secretary’s party business meeting with traditional leaders though it also did not materialize because it was long overdue.
Council also donated for the hosting of a lunch by Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira.

…Residents to pay US$90 per water metre

Brighton Chiseva

Masvingo City Council will pocket a total of US$ 18 000 from Rujeko residents who are willing to replace their non-functional water metres as the local authority moves in to ensure accurate water readings are obtained in the suburb.
According to the Finance and General Purpose Committee meeting minutes dated June 20 2022, council identified Rujeko as their first target and resolved that residents will pay US$ 90 per water metre.
“Consideration was given to the report of the Acting Finance Director on the price of 15 mm water metres. It was reported that council in its endeavour to produce accurate bills and reduce non-revenue water, procured 200 water metres to replace non-functional ones in the city. Management has identified Rujeko suburb as first District Meeting Area to be targeted in this project,” read part of the minutes.
The minutes further read that water metres cost US$ 84 payable at the prevailing interbank rate but the committee resolved to charge US$ 90.
“It was reported that the cost of the water metres is US$ 84.00 payable at the prevailing interbank rate.
“It was advised that the price of water metres be pegged at US$ 90 payable in three instalments at the prevailing interbank rate at the time of connection,” read the minutes.
It was also resolved that the Acting Finance Director organize an awareness campaign in Rujeko high density suburb on compulsory replacement of non-functional water metres.
Council minutes of the previous months revealed that Masvingo city was losing lots of water in transmission due to an old and malfunctioning system, with 18 000 cubic meters (m3) of water being lost in Rujeko as at May 4, 2022.
The Public Works and Planning Committee meeting dated May 09, 2022 under the section (vii) and (viii) named water fitting and DMA1 (Rujeko) revealed that the total of water supplied and the total water billed was different and it leaves a total of 18 401 cubic meters of water unaccounted for.
“It was reported that three bulk water meters were installed in Rujeko area and the readings were taken on May 4, 2022 with the following readings: the total water supplied is 78 587 m3, total water billed was 60 186 m3 while total water lost was 18 401 m3 and non- revenue water is 23.41 percent,” read the minutes.

Tinaani Nyabereka / Yeukai Munetsi

Gweru- Stakeholders and residents of Gweru have expressed their commitment to assist and work hand in hand with Gweru City Council (GCC) in addressing water woes bedeviling the city.
The commitment was made during a water indaba held by Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) under efforts to identify various factors which have been affecting water supply in the communities for years now.
Speaking at the meeting in the Midlands capital, Gweru Council Director for Engineering Services Praymore Mhlanga said council has already started working on various mechanisms and alternatives to supply water to the community despite the various challenges which were affecting effective pumping of water to residents.
“We have engaged various investors who are willing to assist in solar energy in line with investing in green energy.
“As the engineering department, we are under-staffed and as a result, we are then striving to cope with the pressure considering that demand for the precious liquid is now high.
We believe an integrated approach with all stakeholders will assist in reducing the burden of meeting service delivery demands,” said Mhlanga
A resident Florence Guzha said it was crucial for the local authority to work hand in hand with corporates in the province in averting some of the challenges.
“I want to say as residents and council, let us approach our corporates for the support we may need as well because our city is also made up of employees who work in big mining companies, industries to mention a few. We need to join forces together as various stakeholders and private players to see how best we can have other areas of concern addressed.
“We can approach one company and have pipes supplied, we can approach another and have pumps going on, but my main plea is that let’s then have a genuine heart when we engage the business community so that when they come to our aid, they can also see the situation as it is.
“Gweru’s image can only be resuscitated if Gweru council engages both private and public stakeholders and become one voice to mitigate the challenges being faced by the city,” she said.
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association Director, Cornelia Selipiwe said there was need for the community to find lasting solutions to water related challenges.
“Today we have come together to find lasting solutions, we need to work together to curb water scarcity and probably draw solutions which then can take the city to another level.
“We have all agreed that the main challenge to water scarcity is surfacing from the aging infrastructure and the rise in demand for clean water as the city continues to expand hence the most practical solution was an integrated approach,” he added.
Meanwhile Gweru Urban Member of Parliament, Brian Dube urged Gweru council to craft Statutory Instruments to help stir most decision making processes.
Residents also formed a seven-member committee to help council in spearheading service delivery engagement.
The committee is comprised of Civic Society Organization (CSOs), media, land developers, women organizations, councilors and resident associations.